Wichita eagle., 1887-07-16

THE FIELD TELEGRAPH.
DANGERS TO WHICH OPERATORS
WERE EXPOSED DURING THE WAR.
Part Played by q Planters Private
Wire-Tapping tho Enemv's Wires.
Raiding.
The Union armies in the west, in advano-
ing, left behind them a vast stretch OF
country infested by guerrillas and exposed to
formidable raids by the cavalry of Wheeler
and Forrest.
The operators in Tennessee and Kentucky
were always in danger Of surprise and cap
ture. Although they were non-combatsnts,
the Confederates would not consent to treat
them as civilians. Hence it happened that
over seven per cent. Of the operators in the
service were carried off at one time
or another to Libby prison or An
jacksonville. Sometimes, however, the
warning would come from the next station
just in the nick Of time. "Guerrillas arV
coming" Sometimes the cutting of the wires
would advise the man at the key that some
thing was wrong. In such cases the only
thing for the operator to do was to smash the
battery, disengage the instrument, take it
under his arm, jump out the window and
start for the woods.
In 1864, Just about the time Of the fall Of
Atlanta, Gen. Hood sent Wheeler with large
body of cavalry into Tennessee to destroy the
depots Of supplies along the railroad from
Louisville to Nashville and Chattanooga. To
mislead the Union forces it was given out
that the expedition was bound for eastern
Kentucky. This was, in fact, the course for
q time; but once across the border of Ten
nessee, Wheeler turned sharply to the left
nd headed for Murfreesboro, where there
was Union garrison. Two telegraph opera
tors, James Jones and James Palmer, stationed
at Jacksboro, took turns Al the instrument,
and in the interval secuted the country In
search Of Wheeler. Palmer fell in with him,
and being in civilians dress passed himself of
for farmer. He was compelled to ride with
NE cavalry for some hours and then allowed
70 go. Cantering slowly until out of sight Of
che moving column, Palmer headed for the
et6ce at a breakneck pace. "Jim," said he,
Is soon as he could dismount, II fell in with
Wheelers cavalry and managed to get clew
They are not bound for Kentucky at all, bur
for Murfreesboro, Tenn. Call up the operator
1t once"
@Click! Clickl" No answer.
Those fellows must have cut the line on the
other side Of Winters Gap Try the Louis
vile circuit" This proved to be all right,
and Wheeler found Gen. Rousseau waiting
anxiously for him on his arrival, and his
forces-thanks to the boys at Jacksboro-
were dispersed and driven into Alabama.
There was an instance on the other side of
Vicksburg lived a planter, who was noted
a private telegraphic line running down the
bank of the river to the city below. One
night while he was having little quiet game
with friend he thought he heard steam
boat. Rushing to the door he was astounded
to see the river for miles and miles alive with
gunboats and transports. He rushed to
the instrument at once: "Vicksburgl Wick
burgi for Gods sake get ready Millions
Of 'Yanks' are floating by my plantation"
This was Sherman's expedition from Mem
phis on the way to the huitless assault upon
the Chickasaw bluffs, near the Yazoo river.
The Union forces had hoped to SURPRISE
the garrison, but the planters private wire
had let the cat out Of the bag. When
the news arrived at Vicksburg most Of the
officers were at q party. In the midst of
quadrille came the growing undertone
Of the long roll from the batteries ON the
heights
The tapping Of the wires was resorted to by
both sides during the war. This was an ex-
tremely hazardous proceeding Any one
caught in tho act would, Of course. be exc
cuted at once as spy. Ellsworth, q noted
operator attached to the command Of john
Morgan, was very expert at this business He
always carried q pocket instrument which be
could attach to the main line. BY the aid Of
this he could b put In circuit without open.
ing Or breaking the current During one Of
Morgan's raids the operator at GaIlatin,
Tenn, was captured before he could give
danger signal by wire Ellsworth took his
place, and for several hours deceived the
other Offices. Hs reported the track clear
from guerrillaa, IN order that trains might be
sent along, which would, Of course, have been
captured. Fortunately an old operator, who
knew Ellsworth touch well, happened to
take his seat at the key board and instantly
recognized him Ellsworth was 50 accom-
plished an operator that he was able to cut a
wire, place the two ends against his tongue,
and by the vibrations read all messages COM
ing over the lines
1t is said that when Hooker was preparing
% cross the Rappahannock on the eve OF
Charlottesville there was reason to suspect
that Gen Lee was getting too much news
Investigation discovered cable resting upon
the bed OF the river, crossing it and connected
with an underground insulated wire On shore.
This was traced to . small house opposite
fredericksburg. The operator ct the Federal
end Of the line was discovered and arrested,
and has not been seen since.
When Stoneman, Sheridan, Wilson, Rous-
seau and other cavalry leaders were raiding
In the enemys country it was the custom TO
cut down telegraph poles. chop them into
stove lengths, and twist The wires into Cor
dian knots An operator named OReily, At
tached to Gen Grierson's command during
The Mississippi raid. hit upon . very simple
plan which rendered The telegraph lines use
- and at the same time left them standing.
Ihb puzzled tho Confederates for long time
Orally now and then cut ths wires, inserted
bstwsen The snds non conducting substances.